Do fake owls keep rabbits away?
Written by
Kiana Okafor
Reviewed by
Prof. Martin Thorne, Ph.D.Although fake owls can frighten rabbits at first, in a few days, rabbits become accustomed to them. To enhance results, the decoys should be moved to different areas every day and should be paired with reflective tape or wind chimes. Using a variety of stimuli creates even more disturbance to the rabbits' comfort zone than visual stimuli alone.
Setup Tips
- Rotate owl positions every 24-48 hours
- Hang aluminum pie pans nearby for added reflection
- Mount owls at 5-6 feet height to mimic natural predators
Limitations
- Ineffective during heavy rain or fog
- Rabbits ignore stationary decoys after 72 hours
- Doesn't prevent burrowing under barriers
In regions with high winds, like in Kansas, wind chimes are a good option to make the noise from your owl decoys even more unpredictable and likely to deter a rabbit. A gardener in Arizona decreased rabbit visits by 60 percent once he added rotating owl decoys with mylar tape progressing the deterrent simple method. Track the patterns of activity where rabbits come as best you can and place the deterrents at the best regular entrances.
Combining fake owls with scent deterrents (e.g. predator urine) can add redundancy to your rabbit deterrent strategy. Change the tape every three months because sunlight will fade the reflectivity. Do not put your decoys close to bird feeders because birds will be active and get rabbits comfortable. Always use your decoys in conjunction with physical barriers to maximize effectiveness.
Safety is important. Tightly secure owls to avoid damage in a storm. Use UV-resistant materials for outdoor durability. One family in Colorado used owls along with motion-activated lights to help protect their rabbits at night. You can post your hybrid strategies online to assist others in improving their rabbit protection.
Read the full article: 10 Effective Ways to Deter Rabbits in Your Garden
